Inside the Miami Marlins with MLB.com beat writer Joe FrisaroTwitter

Hanley getting closer

When the Marlins went through pregame drills at Citi Field on Friday, Hanley Ramirez was at his familiar shortstop position.

Still, as a precaution, Ramirez was not in the starting lineup in the series opener with the Mets.

However, if Ramirez gets through Friday without any pain, manager Fredi Gonzalez said the All-Star could be in the starting lineup on Saturday afternoon.

Ramirez is dealing with a tight right groin, and he hasn’t played since Tuesday night at Philadelphia. In the third inning of that game, he beat out an infield single, but while hitting the first base bag, he aggravated his right groin.

He didn’t play on Wednesday at Philadelphia, and Friday marked his second straight game not in the starting lineup.

“He’s feeling a lot better,” Gonzalez said. “We’re going to put him through some paces out here, give him some ground balls, do a little hitting and see how he reacts.

“I would think he is good enough to pinch-hit, and even to leave him in the game in a double-switch situation.”

Emilio Bonifacio started at shortstop and Wes Helms was at third base.

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